Product Key Issue

[Guest]

I recently got my computer back from the shop to have a very nasty
hostageware removed. When I started up my system I got a message saying my
copy of the OS might be counterfit. This is obviously because when the shop
repaired my OS they used their copy of Win XP and so my product key has be
lost or obscured.

I have my own copy of Win XP and the Product Key is printed on the envelop.
Can anyone tell me where I go to at MS to resolve this or perhaps how I
reenter my product key on my own machine? When I went to the apropriate MS
site, all that was available was the option to purchase a new OS. I need to
get this resolved because one of the first things I have to do is redownload
the latest copy of Win Media Player because my systen says mine is installed
incorrectly or is corrupt. I suspect the MS download site will not like my
instalation and refuse to let me proceed.

Any help on this will be greatly appiciated. Thank you.

 

[JS]

See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341/en-us
Read it carefully and see if this fits your needs.

JS

 

[thecreator]

Hi C. Olsen,

Procedure to Reinstall Windows XP!

If you want to save any files, make a backup of those files off the Hard
Drive and proceed.

0. - Turn off the printer.
1. - Go into Computer Bios and Set Defaults and Exit, if you know how.
Make sure the Boot Order is set to Boot to CD-Rom Drive First.
2. - Insert Windows XP CD into CD-Rom Drive.
3. - Reboot the computer.
4. - Welcome to Setup.
5. - Reinstall XP - Press Enter
6. - F8 - I Agree
7. - Esc: Don't Repair
8. - Select Partition to Install Windows XP on.
Use UP and DOWN ARROW Keys to Highlight Partition.
9. - Press Enter.
10. - Press C to Continue.
11. - Highlight the Action You Want To Take.
Type of Format you want to perform.
12. - I selected Format The Partition using the Fat File System.
13. - Then Press Enter to Continue
14. - Warning Message
15. - Press F
16. - To Continue To Format Partition with the FAT32 File System.
17. - Press Enter.
18. - Now it formats.
19. - After Formatting It Checks The Drive.
20. - Then Copies files to partition.
21. - Now it Reboots to Windows XP. Don't press a key to boot to CD.
22. - And now it installs Windows XP.
23. - You need to be here now.
24. - Starts at 39 Minutes to Complete.
25. - At 33 minutes, you need to set Time and Time Zone.
26. - And Enter The Product Key.
27. - At 29 minutes, you need to pick the Network.
28. - Now wait for Reboot and you are done.

 

[Curtis Newton]

How about changing via the registry vice reinstalling??

Note: Editing the registry is risky, so be sure you have a verified
backup before making any changes.

1. Edit the registry of the illegal machine.
2. Use Regedit and find:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current
Version\WPAEvents
3. In the right pane, right-click the ODBETimer binary value and
select Modify. Change at least one character of this value to either a
number from 0 to 9 or to a letter from A to F, and then click OK and
close the Registry Editor. This renders the current product key
invalid and deactivates Windows.
4. Reactivate Windows using your new product key.
5. Click Start | Run and enter the command:
%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe /a
6. Windows will launch the Product Activation Wizard.
7. Select the option to telephone a Microsoft customer service
representative to activate Windows.
8. Select the Change Product Key option and enter your new product
key.
9. Click Update and close the window.
10. If Windows returns you to the previous screen, just select the
Remind Me Later option. When the wizard is finished, reboot the
system.
11. When Windows reboots, you’ll be prompted to reactivate your copy
of Windows through the normal activation process.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

How about changing via the registry vice reinstalling??

Because it's not very likely to work, or the problem wouldn't have
arisen in the first place.

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of CD/license
(OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are purchased.
For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail
version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice versa.
An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full version CD, and
vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail
product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an English CD.
Bottom line: Product Keys and CD types cannot be mixed & matched.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I recently got my computer back from the shop to have a very nasty
hostageware removed. When I started up my system I got a message saying my
copy of the OS might be counterfit. This is obviously because when the shop
repaired my OS they used their copy of Win XP and so my product key has be
lost or obscured.

I have my own copy of Win XP and the Product Key is printed on the envelop.
Can anyone tell me where I go to at MS to resolve this or perhaps how I
reenter my product key on my own machine? When I went to the apropriate MS
site, all that was available was the option to purchase a new OS. I need to
get this resolved because one of the first things I have to do is redownload
the latest copy of Win Media Player because my systen says mine is installed
incorrectly or is corrupt. I suspect the MS download site will not like my
instalation and refuse to let me proceed.

Any help on this will be greatly appiciated. Thank you.

You need to use your _legitimate_ retail or OEM full license of
WinXP Pro (If you have WinXP Home, you'll likely need to format the hard
drive and reinstall from scratch) to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place
upgrade) installation, using the new CDs and Product Keys.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell